The NSW Government approved exploration for coal seam gas 500m from the World Heritage Wollemi National Park at Putty. The Australian 'gas rush' for export needs to be reconsidered taking into account the impacts on the environment, people’s health, livelihoods and plans for the future.

Sunday, 11 December 2011

Although the government, Dart Energy and AGL have assured me that there will be no activity at Putty over the next couple of months my faith in the government to protect our environment has been completely shattered during 2011 and I will continue to check websites etc for changes.

Wednesday, 30 November 2011

Senator Bill Heffernan, the Chairman of the Senate Standing References Committee on Rural Affairs & Transport today released the Committee's report on the Impact of Coal Seam Gas Extraction on the Murray-DarlingBasin. The report considers the potential impact of the industry on Basin groundwater resources, agricultural land and regional communities.

Friday, 25 November 2011

The ABC has produced the most comprehensive map of Australia's coal seam gas activities made so far and has pulled together information from dozens of sources to provide an insight into the promise and the dangers inherent in the coal seam gas rush.

Wednesday, 23 November 2011

Yesterday I went to the launch of Icons Under Threat which includes Putty Valley and then I marched from St James to Parliament House with many others to hand over a petition with 20,000 signatures. In the evening I listened to the news hoping to find out if the Mining Tax was passed in the lower house of the Federal Parliament.

Monday, 14 November 2011

If you are against coal and coal seam gas development show it by switching to GreenPower. If more homes and businesses use GreenPower the energy companies will be forced to invest more money in renewable energy.

Thursday, 10 November 2011

The Greens NSW mining spokesperson, Jeremy Buckingham MLC, welcomed the NSW Labor Party's back flip on coal seam gas and their new found support for the Greens' policy and believes their position now makes it possible for his Coal Seam Gas Moratorium Bill to pass the Legislative Council.

Wednesday, 9 November 2011

The anti-CSG movement is gathering momentum as more scientific reports become available and prominent people speak out against it. The media are running stories every day and people are changing their minds.

Monday, 7 November 2011

The Great Barrier Reef is one of the great natural wonders of the world. Thirty years ago, Australia willingly made the Reef a World Heritage Area. That listing was intended to protect the Reef. Any changes to its management, or developments that might affect it, should be notified in advance to the World Heritage Committee.

Saturday, 5 November 2011

A petition with 10,000 signatures will be presented to Premier O’Farrell on Tuesday November 22 at 1pm on the steps of Parliament House. Join other campaigners against the rapid expansion of coal seam gas extraction with your banners and signs.

Peter Neilsen sends photos and reports from Gladstone. The gas fields are on prime agricultural land near Chinchilla and the building of the LNG plant is destroying CurtisIsland within the World Heritage Great Barrier Reef area.

Thursday, 3 November 2011

Federal independents and Greens call for CSG halt and water studies; fracking is the ‘likely cause’ of earthquakes in the UK; UNESCO concerned that the Federal and Queensland government have breached World Heritage guidelines; energy analyst attacks industry and regulators for failing to conduct independent regional modelling of the groundwater impacts. Links to full articles and to the fracking song.

Thursday, 27 October 2011

Landowners from communities across the Liverpool Plains have been forced to take direct action against the mining giant Santos to stop it pushing ahead with ‘pilot production’ of coal seam gas before the potential risks to the region’s iconic water systems are known.

Sunday, 23 October 2011

From Cairns in Far North Queensland to MargaretRiver in Western Australia, from small groups of 50 to mass rallies of 2000, Lock the Gaters rallied on Sunday to celebrate our national day of action. It was a remarkable success with over 10,000 people mobilising to show their support for our campaign to stop irresponsible mining from destroying good farm land, closely settled areas, underground water systems and environmentally sensitive areas.

Tuesday, 11 October 2011

The Barrington-Gloucester-Stroud Preservation Alliance, with the support of the Environmental Defenders Office (EDO), has lodged an appeal in the Land & Environment Court in Sydney against the approval of AGL's coal seam gas project in the Gloucester-StroudValley. Members of communities facing the threat of coal seam gas development are urged to attend the hearings on 17, 19 and 20 October.

Wednesday, 21 September 2011

On Sunday I marched with about two thousand people down King Street, Newtown in protesting about approval to drill a core hole in St Peters and about the rapid expansion of the coal seam gas industry in Australia without full scientific risk assessment.

Tuesday, 13 September 2011

As Dart Energy discovers coal and gas at Putty, 500m from the WorldHeritageWollemiNational Park, the community launches a campaign to have the area declared a mining and extractive industries exclusion zone.

Monday, 12 September 2011

The most comprehensive review of planning legislation in three decades is about to hit the road – the Government appointed review panel is embarking on an exhaustive two-month road trip to ensure the people of NSW are heard.

Tuesday, 30 August 2011

Last week the media focused on the effect of the mining boom on the economy. This week questions are being asked about why potential property buyers were not told about CSG drilling, what happens to waste water and how did Btex get into aquifers.

Is NSW becoming too hard for Dart Energy? After strong opposition to core hole drilling at Putty and angry meetings with Sydney residents where it also has approval to drill, Dart issued an announcement to the Australian Stock Exchange which boosted its flagging share price.

Friday, 26 August 2011

Polling conducted by Galaxy Research has revealed widespread opposition to coal seam gas in Australia and puts pressure on Premier Barry O'Farrell to act to protect the NSW environment and communities.

Friday, 12 August 2011

Members of the Putty community and friends will be protesting against coal seam gas on Sunday 14 August from 11am to 2pm. The protest rally will be held on a private property, “Wheeny”, on the western side of the Putty Road half way between Windsor and Singleton and adjoining the property of the proposed drilling site.

Saturday, 6 August 2011

A Parliamentary Committee will investigate the environmental, economic and social impacts of coal seam gas mining in NSW, following widespread concerns from landholders, farmers and environmentalists worried about the affects of this rapidly growing industry. The Committee is currently seeking submissions from interested individuals and groups, with a closing date of 7th September 2011.

Wednesday, 3 August 2011

On Monday night a group of 15 PuttyValley landholders and residents attended a public meeting hosted by The Greens at LeichhardtTown Hall. Over 300 people crowded into the hall to hear from coal seam gas mining company representatives and a variety of people who oppose them.

Monday, 25 July 2011

The following is a letter sent to the Premier from Keith Muir, Director, Colong Foundation for Wilderness. Please send letters to the Premier and your local member if you object to coal seam gas extraction at Putty.

Thursday, 23 June 2011

Since April I have been tracking the share prices of some of the companies involved in coal seam gas extraction in Australia. To find out more about these companies and other companies involved in coal seam gas see below.

Thursday, 9 June 2011

I recently attended a seminar at Mudgee on Mining Advocacy presented by the Environmental Defenders Office. The key issues are to seek legal advice before negotiating with mining companies, consult with your neighbours and band together as a community. Many aspects will remain unclear until the new NSW Government has reviewed coal seam gas mining in this state. The following are my notes.

Monday, 30 May 2011

Mining advocacy seminar, the week’s leaks and spill, is your home covered by a mining exploration lease – see the map, outgoing Woodside boss sleeps at night because he didn’t get the company into CSG mining.

Saturday, 21 May 2011

The Sydney Morning Heralds article - Exploration licences freeze in NSW gave me reason to hope but on closer inspection it is hard to know what it means. With no media release on the Department of Planning’s website it is difficult to clarify if it means exploration licences or approvals for exploration. As all valuable mining areas in NSW already have Exploration Licences over them a freeze on new exploration licences means little!!!

Monday, 9 May 2011

Dart Energy reps tell the community that gas wells in Putty will look like the ones at Camden so I go to Camden to check them out, then AGL tells me no one knows what they will look like until after exploration when the geology is known.

Saturday, 30 April 2011

Do you know what LNG is? Do you know what is happening in Gladstone in Queensland? Multinational mining companies lower the unemployment rate, build infrastructure and pay royalties making the state and federal governments look good but what is the cost?

Saturday, 23 April 2011

Dart Energy, the company planning to explore for coal seam gas in the Putty Valley, is raising $100 million to accelerate exploration and development. A link is posted to the Q&A session with Dart's reps and the Putty community.